Stock stretcher



P. LESTESHEN STOCK STRETCHER Jan. 28, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 24, 1959 Jan. 28, 1964 P. LEsTEsHEN 3,119,433

sTocK STRETCHER Filed Aug. 24, 1959 5 SheetseSheet 2 INVENTOR. PETER LESTESHEN ATJY'OBNEYS P. LESTESHEN STOCK STRETCHER Jan. 28, 1964 .3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Aug. 24, 1959 bm wm ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,119,433 STOCK STRETCIFIER Peter Lesteshen, Cleveland, hio, assignor to The Yoder Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of hio Filed Aug. 24, 1959, Ser. No. 835,486 13 Claims. (Cl. 153-35) This invention relates generally as indicated to a stock stretcher and more particularly to a stock stretcher especially adapted to stretch or pre-stress strip material prior to a subsequent embossing operation.

Embossing or working operations often result in the rupturing of the stock strip material due to stress concentrations occurring in such operation. I have found that if the stock is suiiciently pre-worked or deformed in such a manner as to increase the length thereof in certain areas, such rupturing as the result of a subsequent forming operation does not occur. Thus a stretching or deforming mechanism that will alleviate this problem of rupturing due to such stress concentrations occurring in the subsequent embossing operation is to be highly desired.

It has been attempted to increase the Workability of sheet strip material prior to a subsequent 'working operation by passing such strip through -a staggered -roll assembly. A device of this type may be seen in the patent to Montgomery 2,153,811. This pre-working of such sheet material is generally inadequate for forming deep embossments such as the diamond patterns which are used to strengthen and rigidify lat sheet material for modern unitary roofing and oor decking materials used in modern construction methods.

I have found that in order electively to pre-work the strip material so that the subsequent embossing operations will not cause ruptures in the material, it is necessary longitudinally to stretch such material with the maximum area of stretch generally being positioned in the area of such strip subject to the maximum deformation as the result of the embossing operation. Such stretching can preferably be accomplished by subjecting this particular area of the strip to a path of travel greater than the path of travel of such other portion of the strip not subject to the subsequent working operation.

It is accordingly a principal object of my invention to provide a mechanism which will adequately produce sheet material having deep embossments therein Without iupturing or damaging such product in any way.

It is a further principal object of my invention to provide a mechanism that will adequately stretch such stock in the predetermined area to enable such subsequent embossing operation to be proper-ly performed thereon.

It is yet another aobject of my invention to provide la mechanism that will elongate a portion of metal strip which will distribute the elongation even-ly along the length of the strip while controlling the width of such elongated portion.

It is still another object of my invention to provide a mechanism that will discriminatingly stretch metal strip in the desired manner and location that can quickly and easily be threaded when the coil stock is exhausted.

It is a lfurther object of my invention to provide a simplified roll stand that will properly stretch longitudinal portions of strip stock in which the pressures of the rolls controlling the paths of movement of various transverse portions of such strip can readily be controlled.

-Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention, then, comprises the features hereinafter fully -described and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed draw- Patented Jan. 28, 1964 ICC" ings setting -forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these being indicative, however, of a few of the various ways in which the principles of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawings:

FIG. l is -a side elevational view of my stock stretcher showing its relation to the embossing stand;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of my stock stretcher partially in section;

FIG. 3 is -a top plan view of my stretcher shown in FIG. v2;

FIG. `4 is a vertical section taken generally on the line 4 4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an elevation illustrating the prole of my upper roll;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 illustrating the profile of my lower rolls;

FIG. 7 is a somewhat schematic plan view illustrating the rolls in relation to the stretched and unstretched areas of the strip and the subsequent embossments therein; and

FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 illustrating a slightly modified roll arrangement producing a different stretching pattern yfor strip embossment.

Referring now 4to FIG. l, the strip S passes through a forming station which can, for example, flange the edges thereof and then through my stock stretcher generally indicated `at 1. From the stock stretcher the strip passes through the embossing stand generally indicated at 2 which comprises upper and lower embossing rolls 3 and 4, such embossing and forming stations being of a generally conventional nature.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 4 inclusive, it will be seen that my stock stretcher comprises a lower roll support or bracket 5 mounted on a base plate 6 which can he secured to the oor by a plurality of bolts 7. The lower roll bracket may be preferably of welded steel construction and includes tWo front face plates 8 and 9 mounting thereon adjusting screw supports 10 and 11 respectively for a purpose hereinafter described. At the right hand portion of the lower roll bracket as seen in FIG. 1, there is secured support plates 12 and 13 upwardly terminating in bifurcated pivot blocks 14 and 15 having secured therein aligned pivot pins 16 and 17 respectively for a purpose subsequently to be described.

The lower roll bracket also includes -a support bed plate 18 welded to three vertical supports 19, 20 and 2.1. These vertical support plates extend across the roll stand and support on each end thereof bearing plates 22 and 23 in which are positioned the lower supporting roll shafts 24, 25 and 26 of my stock stretcher.

Each side of the roll stand is provided with gussets or supporting ribs 27 and 28 as shown in FIG. 3, thus rrnly to support the plates 8, 9, 22 and 23 in their proper normal positions. It will now be seen that the rolls are supported in bearing plates 22 and 23 and that bed plate 1S extends between such bearing plates and that the three vertical supports 19, 2t) and 21 rmly maintain such bed plate 1S in its proper horizontal position.

Referring now to FIG. 2, it will be seen that my lower supporting rolls are positioned in the side plates 22 and 23 and extend through end supporting blocksl 30 and 31 resting on bed plate 18 as well as spaced supports 32, 33, 34 and 35. lournalled on the shaft 26 are five supporting rolls 36, 37, 33, 39 and 40 having the profiles shown in FIG. 2, such shaft 26 and rolls 36 through 40 generally comprising a supporting roll assembly. Such rolls are mounted for rotation about the roll shaft 26 which is maintained in its proper horizontal position by the supports 30 through 35 inclusive secured to bed plate 18. The rollers mounted on shaft 24 are identical in form to the rollers shown in FIG. 2. As illustrated, washers may be employed to center the support rollers between the supports and to enclose the bearings for the rolls which may beroller, slide or ball bearings.

The roll shaft 2S is positioned slightly above the centers of roll shafts 24 and 26 and is of aslightly smaller diameter. However, the profile conliguration of the live supporting rolls thereon are substantially the same as the rolls 36 through 40 inclusive.

Also rotatably secured in the .plates 22 and -23 are my lower working rolls 41 and 42. These rolls are secured in apertures vin the plates `and held therein by retainer plates as shown at 43 .in FIG. l. .ln lthis manner, the lower ,working rolls are free to rotate on the supporting backup rolls and yet are firmly held in the correct longitudinally aligned position .by such retainer plates.

My upper roll bracket is generally shown at S and has depending from .the front thereof ltwo apertured ears 51 and 52 which are so spaced to be received in the bifurcated portions of thesupport blocks 14 and ,15 Whereby the pins 16 and 17 may be secured therethrough so that :my entire upper roll .bracket 50 may pivot about the axis of such pins 16 and 17. The upper roll bracket ismade preferably of reinforced welded steel construction as shown more clearly Ain FIG. .4 and comprises a top plate 53 on which 'is secured a cam enclosure 54. Such cam enclosing includes an enlarged top bearing plate 55 designed to rest on cam 56. At the rear end of the top plate 58 is another enlarged bearing plate 57 which cooperates with the plate 55 so that the entire upper roll bracket assembly may be .pivoted about the axis of the pins -16 and v17 by the ,manipulation ofthe cam 56 about itsveccentric axis. The manipulation of the cam to adjust the upper roll rbracket will be subsequently described.

The vupper roll bracket includes support plates S and 59 spaced from the ltop ,plate by aseries of transversely vertically extending plates 60, 61, 62, 63 and 64. Plate 6,1v is weldedbetween plates 58 and 59 and-extends downwardly to form the front .side of the top roll housing. Plates 63 and 64 are secured between the bearing plate 57 and the support plate 59 rigidly to form the rear of my ytop rollassembly. Secured to the ends of the plates 61, 62, 63 and 64 are my .upper bearingplates 65and 66 in which the shafts 67 and ..68 of my upper backup rolls are secured. The shafts 67 and 68 are also secured in supports 69, 70, 71 and 72 secured to the lower side of plate 5 8 in a manner similar to the supports 32-through 35 being secured to bed plate 18. Mounted onthe shaft Mare-rollers 73, 74, 75,76, '77. These rollers are each provided 4with bearings whereby they may rotate readily. The Vrollers on shaft .68 are identicalin form to the rollers 73 through 77 inclusive. It can now be seen that I have provided a lirm backup roll arrangement for my upper working roll. The upper .working roll 7S is nested between vmy supporting roll assemblies and is secured in an aperture or cutout portion neach plate .65 and 66. As noted in FIG. 5, the ends of such uppergroll 78 are sharply crowned or tapered as shown at 79 and 80 and the cutout portions in such plates 65 and 66 are similarly shaped such that a downward pressure on the upper roll bracket will Atend properly to center the upper working roll in its prescribed position. The shafts 67 vand 68 o f the upper backup roll assemblies `are secured in the plates 65 and 66 so that when the upper roll ,bracket is pivoted about pins 16 and 17, the upperworking roll 7S may then be removed simply by removing locking caps secured to the bottom of plates 65 and ,66. This considerably enhances the quickness with .which the roll assembly may be rethreaded.

.In order to adjust the upper roll bracket about the pins 16 and 17, the cam y56 is supported on cam support 30 which `is in turn secured to the lower roll bracket by means of adjusting screws 81 and 82. Thus the cam 56 can property be spaced from the lower rolls to maintain vthe rolls of the upper and lower brackets in the proper parallel positions so that only a subsequent adffl justment of the cam 56 need be made to apply the proper pressure across the entire transverse portion of the strip.

The adjusting screws 81 and S2 are secured to ribs 83 and 84 respectively which are in turn secured between upright bearing caps S5, 86, 87 and 88 respectively. Positioned through such bearing caps is cam shaft 89 having squared ends 90 and 91 by which ysuch cam shaft may readily be rotated by a wrench, crank or power driven device, for example.

As seen in FIG. 2, the cam 56 extends entirely between bearing caps 86 and S7 to be enclosed by the plates 55 and 57 mounted on the top of the upper roll bracket. I n this mannen-the proper adjustment of the screws 81 and S2 will align the axes of the various supporting and work rolls in the necessary parallel position. As soon as the rolls are properly aligned, only subsequent adjustments of the cam need be made to apply-the proper deformation to the strip S. Thus the upper working roll may readily be lowered into pressure engagement with the strip kS.

lf desired, my stock stretcher may be secured directly to the embossing stand by bolts 92 passing throughpthe plates S and 9. =Bolts 93 and-94 rnay also be employed passing through elongated slots 95 andt96 in the cam support 80 thus permitting movement of such cam support relative to ythe embossing stand whereby the required adjustments may be m-ade through screws 81 and 82. .It is noted that such screws are also provided with squared ends 97 and S28-to effect more evenly a rapid adjustment l thereof.

VReferring now to FIG. 5 and 6, I illustrate the profiles of my working rolls. FIG. 5 illustrates the profile of my upper -roll which may be, for example, approximately 151/2inches long and includes a center right circular cylindrical portion 100 and which tapers thnough an angle of approximately 2 to the sharp bend 1701 such roll terminating in a crowned portion 79 of thesame general configuration as the recess in bearing plates 22 and23. The opposite end of the roll is, lof course, alloch'irally the same and terminates kin crowned portion 80.

There are two lower working rolls 41 and 42 and both have the similar right circular cylindrical center portion 102 and also taper at approximately. 2 to anrelongated portion 103 which terminates .in the bearing plates 22 and23. Again, the bearings Ifor ,the work rolls are ,such that they maybe supported firmly by the backup rolls having the configuration shown more clearly in FIG. 2. Thus, the center backup rolls 38 `and 75 are rectilinear rolls which mate with the right circular cylindrical center portions of each of the respective work rolls. The other backup rolls, of course, have the same taper as the work rolls thus firmly to provide ,the proper nest therefor. 1It can be seen that the curvilinear contour of the working and backup rolls substantially eliminates any end thrust problems that may be involved. l

Referring now to FIG. 7 it will be seen that the work rolls provide a pass in which the `strip lS is forced to travel through a greater `distance at certain portions thereof than at the other portions. Consequently, in the illustrated embodiment, the maximum stretch of -the strip will be obtained in the center at the area generally shown as 104 and the sides'lOS and 106 will not substantially be subject to any deformation or stretching. As a result, deep diamond shaped embossmen-ts as those-shown at 107 may subsequently be made in A.the stretched area ofthe strip 104 Without the danger of t such .strip rupturing. It can now be seen that the rolls may )be forced together with a degree of pressure .such that the width of the stretched area 1.04 may be controlled. Tlhus if lthe rolls are lfirmly pressed together, the entire width of the strip may be forced through paths of various lengths thus to varying degrees stretching the entire Width of a strip. IIt is noted that such stretching results only by ,portions of the strip moving through a longer Vpath of travel with respect lto other portions of the strip. The pressure .of the Working rolls limits most of the stretch of the stock to an elongation rather than transversely of the strip. As seen in FlG. 8, the work rolls may take any desired configuration and I have illustrated as an example, rolls of a sinusoidal profile that stretch or elongate two spaced areas of the strip S as shown at 108 and 109. `In this manner, embossments 110 of a dierent pattern may be employed on the strip. Of course, such pre-stretching can be applied to many more embossing problems than are illustrated 'in the two examples schematically shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The possibility of varying the stretched area and the embossment subsequently formed can infinitely be varied.

It will now be seen that l have provided a means simply and easily to stretch or deform sheet material to enable the next operation thereon to be successfully applied.

Moreover, with use of my unique cam adjustment, I can quickly release all of the pressure on the top roll whereby such top roll may easily be withdrawn for easy rethreading of new stock. Moreover, the single ladjustment of the cam operated upper roll assures that the top roll is parallel to Athe lower rolls and once so set with the adjusting jack screws, the cam operation will not move the rolls out of such parallel position.

Whereas I have shown -a cluster mill stand in which neither the working nor backup -rolls are dri-ven, the strip preferably being pulled through the stand under tension, it will readily `be understood that either or both may be driven through a convenient power source.

Other modes of applying the principles of the invention may be employed, change being made as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims or -the equivalent of such be employed.

I, therefore, particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

1. A stretching mechanism for strip material comprising a pair of lower working rolls and a single upper workfing roll, means -to move the upper working roll into a nested position between the lower working rolls, said working rolls having axially corresponding enlarged portions to define a substantially longer path for the transverse portion of the strip passing therearound, and backup rolls for said working rolls, said backup rolls having a mating profile configuration with said working rolls to support said working rolls uniformly axially thereof.

2. A mechanism as set forth in claim 1 including pressure means to force the working rolls into nested relationship 'to stretch the strip material passing therethrough.

3. A mechanism as set forth in claim 2 wherein said pressure means comprises a ca m mechanism to force the upper working roll down against the strip between said lower working rolls.

4. A mechanism as set forth in claim 3 wherein said upper working roll is pivotally mounted and said cam forcibly pivotally moves said upper working roll against the lower working rolls to stretch the strip as it is passed through said working rolls.

5. A strip stock stretcher comprising a base, two lower working rolls journalled in said base having a curvilinear longitudinal profile, backup roll assemblies also journalled in said base uniformly longitudinally supporting -said lower working rolls, an upper roll stand pivotally mounted on said base and an upper working roll journalled therein having a similar curvilinear profile, upper backup roll assemblies journalled in said upper roll stand longitudinally evenly to apply pressure against said upper working roll, pressure applying means operatively connected to said upper roll stand to swing said upper roll stand about such pivot to force said upper working roll into a nested relation between said lower working rolls.

6. A strip stock stretcher as set forth in claim 5 wherein said lower working rolls have a central right circular cylindrical portion and tapering end portions terminating in smaller diameter right circular cylindrical portions, and said upper working roll has a central right circular cylindrical portion tapering to crowned end portions, said center portions of said working rolls being of equal length.

7. A stock stretcher as set forth in claim 5 wherein the maximum diameter portions of said working rolls are substantially juxtaposed.

8. A stock stretcher as set forth in claim 7 wherein said working rolls have a sinusoidal profile such that the working rolls have axially spaced respective corresponding maximum diameter portions effective to stretch stock passed therethrough only at such transverse portions of the strip passing through said maximum diameter portions of the working rolls.

9. A stock stretcher for strip material and the like comprising a base including a lower roll stand, an upper roll stand pivotally mounted thereto, pressure appiying means connected to said upper roll stand, and roll cluster means journalled in said upper and lower roll stands to define a tortuous path for certain transverse portions only of the strip passing therethrough, said pressure applying means comprising a cam bearing against said pivotally mounted upper roll stand.

10. A stock stretcher as set forth in claim 9 wherein said cam means is mounted on a horizontally extending shaft journalled in supports vertically adjustable with respect to said lower roll stand.

l1. A stock stretcher as set forth in claim 10 wherein said cam shaft is horizontally alignable with respect to said lower roll stand.

12. A stretcher as set forth in claim 1.1 wherein said roll clusters comprise two curvilinear profile rolls in said lower roll stand and a single curvilinear proiile roll in said upper roll stand, said rolls being so positioned that the maximum diameters thereof are axially juxtaposed.

13. A stretcher as set forth in claim 12 including backup rolls for said upper and lower working rolls, said backup rolls including a plurality of axially spaced bearing rolls having curvilinear surfaces of a mating configuration with the respective portions of said working rolls.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,584,499 Zachhuber May ll, 1926 2,001,637 Talbot May 14, 1935 2,009,508 Maussnest July 30, 1935 2,118,715 Stringham May 24, 1938 2,183,969 McKinney Dec. 19, 1939 2,338,678 Wilson Jan. 4, 1944 2,348,539 Harper May 9, 1944 2,646,103 Kiss July 21, 1953 2,826,811 Shikes Mar. 18, 1958 2,909,138 Lawson Oct. 20, 1959 3,006,401 Wognum et al. Oct. 3l, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 746,765 Great Britain Mar. 21, 1956 

1. A STRETCHING MECHANISM FOR STRIP MATERIAL COMPRISING A PAIR OF LOWER WORKING ROLLS AND A SINGLE UPPER WORKING ROLL, MEANS TO MOVE THE UPPER WORKING ROLL INTO A NESTED POSITION BETWEEN THE LOWER WORKING ROLLS, SAID WORKING ROLLS HAVING AXIALLY CORRESPONDING ENLARGED PORTIONS TO DEFINE A SUBSTANTIALLY LONGER PATH FOR THE TRANSVERSE PORTION OF THE STRIP PASSING THEREAROUND, AND BACKUP ROLLS FOR SAID WORKING ROLLS, SAID BACKUP ROLLS HAVING A MATING PROFILE CONFIGURATION WITH SAID WORKING ROLLS TO SUPPORT SAID WORKING ROLLS UNIFORMLY AXIALLY THEREOF. 